Council chiefs look to increase park and ride usage in Weymouth and Dorchester

COUNCIL chiefs need to do more to encourage people into park and ride facilities in Weymouth and Dorchester which are underused, a report says.

Dorset County Council says park and ride can shift thousands of cars off the road but not enough people seem to be using its sites particularly at Weymouth which is running at a loss.

Efforts should also be made to get more Dorchester workers to park out of town, but a bigger site should be investigated.

Reviewing parking arrangements at County Hall, linking up with big employers like Dorset County Hospital, talking with traders' groups to tempt more workers and shoppers, and removing free parking in towns are measures to be considered by DCC to boost usage.

Although the 1,159-capacity Weymouth hub at Mount Pleasant is becoming more popular since it opened in 2011, it rakes in about £100,000 a year but costs £278,000 a year to run. Less than 100 cars a day use it except in high summer and big events.

The Dorchester facility at the football club for 219 vehicles is about 77 per cent occupied although used more on market days. It costs £108,000 to run of which £73,000 comes from DCC and remainder from West Dorset District Council. No income data is available.

Director for Environment and the Economy Mike Harries says in a report to today's (Thursday) Environment Overview Committee that park and ride could remove 'thousands of miles of commuter travel' along the A354 and around Dorchester improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions.

It is a key element in reducing Dorchester commuter parking including at County Hall where the majority of cars park for most of the day.

He said charges may need to be bumped up if any changes are made, and warned that West Dorset District Council, which provides free parking for staff, is considering the level of financial support as the park and ride buses do not serve its new HQ.

Mr Harries adds: “Use of the county council's P&R operations remains far below a level that will enable costs to be met.

“However, the Weymouth operation is continuing to grow and can accommodate substantially greater patronage within its existing capacity, subject to a reduction in town-centre parking.

“The Dorchester operation is capacity constrained and mainly limited to commuter use, although we are aware of developers seeking to provide an alternative, larger site.

“Developing an improved P&R service alone will not be sufficient to generate significant additional usage.

“Further support will be required, i.e town-centre parking restrictions, including the removal of existing free parking.”

Potential measures to encourage park and ride use: *Linking with big employers to encourage greater use

*Review parking system at County Hall and all DCC sites to encourage use of town sites and remove incentive to park on campus

*Promote park and ride as workers car park

*Investigate P&R site south of A35 at Dorchester

*Work with councils in Weymouth and Dorchester to align P&R with town centre parking strategies

TRANSPORT spokesman for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council Cllr Christine James said it was vital DCC officers spoke to local councillors about the issues rather than spouting 'hot air', particularly as the borough has just completed a major parking strategy.

She said: “It has been known for a while that park and ride is underused. It's a good concept but people want the convenience of parking in the centre.

“Officers need to be speaking to elected members about this. The council has tried to talk to county about improving park and ride but they didn't want to know.”

She added: “What is concerning is there are park and ride buses running empty all day and there are parts of Weymouth which no longer have a bus service so maybe they could re-route them to serve communities.”

Owner of Dream On tea rooms on Weymouth seafront Fred Williams said: “What infuriates me is that the park and ride is always empty. If we can get that filled up it would alleviate parking problems in Weymouth. It would solve a lot more of the problems than a decrease in parking charges.”

Comments

arlbergbahn
11:13am Thu 19 Jun 14

mr commonsense wrote…

Oh the stupidity of Councils. The only use for park and ride is for people who work in town, it has no use for local residents who shop in town. So the simple solution is to make it free and part of the contract of employment for all public service employees.
Perhaps the real agenda is for councils to get rid of all cars in the towns and that way bankrupt the entire local economy , we shall see.

yes, let's hope so. Let's face it, they hardly enhance the environment, do they. Why should people need to drive their Cars into town? For shopping? Come on, that's becoming thing of the past isn't it, High Street Shopping, at least for everyday things. Supermarkets on the outskirts with easy access from main roads is far more sensible. For the things that town centres should be focussing on- dining, entertainment & c.- it's hardly essential to be able to park right in the centre, is it. It'd hardly be sensible to drive at all in fact, would it.

[quote][p][bold]mr commonsense[/bold] wrote:
Oh the stupidity of Councils. The only use for park and ride is for people who work in town, it has no use for local residents who shop in town. So the simple solution is to make it free and part of the contract of employment for all public service employees.
Perhaps the real agenda is for councils to get rid of all cars in the towns and that way bankrupt the entire local economy , we shall see.[/p][/quote]yes, let's hope so. Let's face it, they hardly enhance the environment, do they. Why should people need to drive their Cars into town? For shopping? Come on, that's becoming thing of the past isn't it, High Street Shopping, at least for everyday things. Supermarkets on the outskirts with easy access from main roads is far more sensible. For the things that town centres should be focussing on- dining, entertainment & c.- it's hardly essential to be able to park right in the centre, is it. It'd hardly be sensible to drive at all in fact, would it.arlbergbahn

mr commonsense wrote…

Oh the stupidity of Councils. The only use for park and ride is for people who work in town, it has no use for local residents who shop in town. So the simple solution is to make it free and part of the contract of employment for all public service employees.
Perhaps the real agenda is for councils to get rid of all cars in the towns and that way bankrupt the entire local economy , we shall see.

yes, let's hope so. Let's face it, they hardly enhance the environment, do they. Why should people need to drive their Cars into town? For shopping? Come on, that's becoming thing of the past isn't it, High Street Shopping, at least for everyday things. Supermarkets on the outskirts with easy access from main roads is far more sensible. For the things that town centres should be focussing on- dining, entertainment & c.- it's hardly essential to be able to park right in the centre, is it. It'd hardly be sensible to drive at all in fact, would it.

Oh the stupidity of Councils. The only use for park and ride is for people who work in town, it has no use for local residents who shop in town. So the simple solution is to make it free and part of the contract of employment for all public service employees.
Perhaps the real agenda is for councils to get rid of all cars in the towns and that way bankrupt the entire local economy , we shall see.

Oh the stupidity of Councils. The only use for park and ride is for people who work in town, it has no use for local residents who shop in town. So the simple solution is to make it free and part of the contract of employment for all public service employees.
Perhaps the real agenda is for councils to get rid of all cars in the towns and that way bankrupt the entire local economy , we shall see.mr commonsense

Oh the stupidity of Councils. The only use for park and ride is for people who work in town, it has no use for local residents who shop in town. So the simple solution is to make it free and part of the contract of employment for all public service employees.
Perhaps the real agenda is for councils to get rid of all cars in the towns and that way bankrupt the entire local economy , we shall see.

Score: 3

Hippyhooker
10:30am Thu 19 Jun 14

Ban all traffic apart from buses from the town then the lazy gits would use it, the only town I know where the park and ride isn't fully used, as for saying it should be free, who pays the drivers? who maintains the vehicles?

Ban all traffic apart from buses from the town then the lazy gits would use it, the only town I know where the park and ride isn't fully used, as for saying it should be free, who pays the drivers? who maintains the vehicles?Hippyhooker

Ban all traffic apart from buses from the town then the lazy gits would use it, the only town I know where the park and ride isn't fully used, as for saying it should be free, who pays the drivers? who maintains the vehicles?

Score: 2

Zummerzet Lad
10:49am Thu 19 Jun 14

Poole only uses it Park & Ride system at Christmas time so it doesn't always work as others hope.
Yeovil doesn't have Park & Ride.
Maybe it won't work in Weymouth or Dorchester as the towns are not big enough unlike Bristol which I believe have well used Park & Ride sites

Poole only uses it Park & Ride system at Christmas time so it doesn't always work as others hope.
Yeovil doesn't have Park & Ride.
Maybe it won't work in Weymouth or Dorchester as the towns are not big enough unlike Bristol which I believe have well used Park & Ride sitesZummerzet Lad

Poole only uses it Park & Ride system at Christmas time so it doesn't always work as others hope.
Yeovil doesn't have Park & Ride.
Maybe it won't work in Weymouth or Dorchester as the towns are not big enough unlike Bristol which I believe have well used Park & Ride sites

Score: 8

MrTomSmith
10:54am Thu 19 Jun 14

I do have a bit of sympathy on this one, because they (the WPBC) can't win, they will never be able to win this one unless they find another income stream for the park and ride when it is not in use that much. It is difficult to only have it running in the Summer because you need the qualified drivers. And it has been said, locals will never use it, we can walk, get the local bus, or DRIVE and pay just 50p for an hour.
Weymouth 90% of the time has stacks of car parking space, so does it really need a park and ride?

Well its great for part of June July and August and does help. But it's pretty useless the rest of the time. It would be a shame to lose it, but we just don't have the need for it 9 months of the year.

Its a no win situation I am afraid, would make a great space for a Football Ground though and you can still have it as a Park and Ride no problem. BUT you (WPBC) would have to give it to the Club for Free. But it would be a great gesture and create a bit of good will back to the town after years of abuse.

This is the right solution, just needs a bit of goodwill. The Football club can't afford rent, but that ground is sitting empty for most of the year, its daft. Get the new homes built as well, and lets move on a bit.

Oh and what's in it for the Town? well if you build the new stadium correctly you can have conference facilities overlooking the pitch, with corporate boxes that the council could use. Its called Sharing........
its a funny old thing people do now and then to help each other out.

I do have a bit of sympathy on this one, because they (the WPBC) can't win, they will never be able to win this one unless they find another income stream for the park and ride when it is not in use that much. It is difficult to only have it running in the Summer because you need the qualified drivers. And it has been said, locals will never use it, we can walk, get the local bus, or DRIVE and pay just 50p for an hour.
Weymouth 90% of the time has stacks of car parking space, so does it really need a park and ride?
Well its great for part of June July and August and does help. But it's pretty useless the rest of the time. It would be a shame to lose it, but we just don't have the need for it 9 months of the year.
Its a no win situation I am afraid, would make a great space for a Football Ground though and you can still have it as a Park and Ride no problem. BUT you (WPBC) would have to give it to the Club for Free. But it would be a great gesture and create a bit of good will back to the town after years of abuse.
This is the right solution, just needs a bit of goodwill. The Football club can't afford rent, but that ground is sitting empty for most of the year, its daft. Get the new homes built as well, and lets move on a bit.
Oh and what's in it for the Town? well if you build the new stadium correctly you can have conference facilities overlooking the pitch, with corporate boxes that the council could use. Its called Sharing........
its a funny old thing people do now and then to help each other out.MrTomSmith

I do have a bit of sympathy on this one, because they (the WPBC) can't win, they will never be able to win this one unless they find another income stream for the park and ride when it is not in use that much. It is difficult to only have it running in the Summer because you need the qualified drivers. And it has been said, locals will never use it, we can walk, get the local bus, or DRIVE and pay just 50p for an hour.
Weymouth 90% of the time has stacks of car parking space, so does it really need a park and ride?

Well its great for part of June July and August and does help. But it's pretty useless the rest of the time. It would be a shame to lose it, but we just don't have the need for it 9 months of the year.

Its a no win situation I am afraid, would make a great space for a Football Ground though and you can still have it as a Park and Ride no problem. BUT you (WPBC) would have to give it to the Club for Free. But it would be a great gesture and create a bit of good will back to the town after years of abuse.

This is the right solution, just needs a bit of goodwill. The Football club can't afford rent, but that ground is sitting empty for most of the year, its daft. Get the new homes built as well, and lets move on a bit.

Oh and what's in it for the Town? well if you build the new stadium correctly you can have conference facilities overlooking the pitch, with corporate boxes that the council could use. Its called Sharing........
its a funny old thing people do now and then to help each other out.

Score: 7

Woodgate
11:06am Thu 19 Jun 14

The park and ride was conceived as part of the by pass and Olympic planning works and aimed at reducing traffic flow and parking in the town centre area. The problem is that the by pass has actually accelerated traffic outflow to the growing facilities of Dorchester and further afield rather than deliver lots of new visitors or commuters into Weymouth. The Olympics are gone and you have to question what attractions there currently are in Weymouth town that are going to pull in the volume of car borne visitors to warrant such a large facility 2 miles north. Beach users probably want to be closer and that usage is very seasonal. Until Weymouth and Portland gets significant regeneration investment this large car park does little more than serve commuters to Dorchester. High charges for town centre parking wont make people use it - they just deter them from coming back

The park and ride was conceived as part of the by pass and Olympic planning works and aimed at reducing traffic flow and parking in the town centre area. The problem is that the by pass has actually accelerated traffic outflow to the growing facilities of Dorchester and further afield rather than deliver lots of new visitors or commuters into Weymouth. The Olympics are gone and you have to question what attractions there currently are in Weymouth town that are going to pull in the volume of car borne visitors to warrant such a large facility 2 miles north. Beach users probably want to be closer and that usage is very seasonal. Until Weymouth and Portland gets significant regeneration investment this large car park does little more than serve commuters to Dorchester. High charges for town centre parking wont make people use it - they just deter them from coming backWoodgate

The park and ride was conceived as part of the by pass and Olympic planning works and aimed at reducing traffic flow and parking in the town centre area. The problem is that the by pass has actually accelerated traffic outflow to the growing facilities of Dorchester and further afield rather than deliver lots of new visitors or commuters into Weymouth. The Olympics are gone and you have to question what attractions there currently are in Weymouth town that are going to pull in the volume of car borne visitors to warrant such a large facility 2 miles north. Beach users probably want to be closer and that usage is very seasonal. Until Weymouth and Portland gets significant regeneration investment this large car park does little more than serve commuters to Dorchester. High charges for town centre parking wont make people use it - they just deter them from coming back

Score: 15

cosmick
11:06am Thu 19 Jun 14

I know what to do but if the people in control dont then theres no hope. Got no forsight at all.

I know what to do but if the people in control dont then theres no hope. Got no forsight at all.cosmick

I know what to do but if the people in control dont then theres no hope. Got no forsight at all.

Score: -7

Resident of Dorchester
11:54am Thu 19 Jun 14

Using money demands to get people to change their habits won't work. Free P&R could work. The major employers need to deal with this, and who are they in Dorchester I wonder - why it is the local councils! Ban their staff from using public parking, after all, they have perking available for 'essential' use and as the councils bleat on about the public, set an example. Planning requires parking - but once again they blame the public for their own ineptitude. Years ago I suggested using ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) to charge people who enter the town and then just drive through. Then one can charge for transit as well as parking as the time is recorded. Locals could pay for a 'season' ticket, or FOC for genuine disabled permits holders and those entitled to a bus pass which they would have to apply for. It means thinking laterally - so unlikely!

Using money demands to get people to change their habits won't work. Free P&R could work. The major employers need to deal with this, and who are they in Dorchester I wonder - why it is the local councils! Ban their staff from using public parking, after all, they have perking available for 'essential' use and as the councils bleat on about the public, set an example. Planning requires parking - but once again they blame the public for their own ineptitude. Years ago I suggested using ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) to charge people who enter the town and then just drive through. Then one can charge for transit as well as parking as the time is recorded. Locals could pay for a 'season' ticket, or FOC for genuine disabled permits holders and those entitled to a bus pass which they would have to apply for. It means thinking laterally - so unlikely!Resident of Dorchester

Using money demands to get people to change their habits won't work. Free P&R could work. The major employers need to deal with this, and who are they in Dorchester I wonder - why it is the local councils! Ban their staff from using public parking, after all, they have perking available for 'essential' use and as the councils bleat on about the public, set an example. Planning requires parking - but once again they blame the public for their own ineptitude. Years ago I suggested using ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) to charge people who enter the town and then just drive through. Then one can charge for transit as well as parking as the time is recorded. Locals could pay for a 'season' ticket, or FOC for genuine disabled permits holders and those entitled to a bus pass which they would have to apply for. It means thinking laterally - so unlikely!

Score: -10

MrTomSmith
12:31pm Thu 19 Jun 14

I quite the idea of your car being followed everywhere so that if you go into a town it cost you so much, it would be a flat rate say 50p an hour to go into Dorchester and you can park anywhere that is legal. Same for every town in the country. Then you can charge for motorways. Every car tracked 24/7 NO ROAD TAX CHEAP PETROL, so you just get charged for what you do. You wouldn't need car park tickets anymore. Would cut down on crime as every car would be tracked. It would know you speed as well. The bonus is if you only get your car out once a week, it would only cost you a couple of quid a week to use it. Now that system might get a few back on the buses and walking. I should be prime minister really.

I quite the idea of your car being followed everywhere so that if you go into a town it cost you so much, it would be a flat rate say 50p an hour to go into Dorchester and you can park anywhere that is legal. Same for every town in the country. Then you can charge for motorways. Every car tracked 24/7 NO ROAD TAX CHEAP PETROL, so you just get charged for what you do. You wouldn't need car park tickets anymore. Would cut down on crime as every car would be tracked. It would know you speed as well. The bonus is if you only get your car out once a week, it would only cost you a couple of quid a week to use it. Now that system might get a few back on the buses and walking. I should be prime minister really.MrTomSmith

I quite the idea of your car being followed everywhere so that if you go into a town it cost you so much, it would be a flat rate say 50p an hour to go into Dorchester and you can park anywhere that is legal. Same for every town in the country. Then you can charge for motorways. Every car tracked 24/7 NO ROAD TAX CHEAP PETROL, so you just get charged for what you do. You wouldn't need car park tickets anymore. Would cut down on crime as every car would be tracked. It would know you speed as well. The bonus is if you only get your car out once a week, it would only cost you a couple of quid a week to use it. Now that system might get a few back on the buses and walking. I should be prime minister really.

Score: -13

peter.ledger3@btopenworld.com
1:01pm Thu 19 Jun 14

I had 2 businesses on weymouth harbourside from 1994 until 2010, in that time there were a few people who wanted less traffic in weymouth and especially the old harbourside, one thing that these people always forget is the people who visit weymouth mostly come by car, and yes car drivers can be lazy, a good friend of mine wanted to have the old harbourside free of traffic and parked cars, i always argued that residents should come first and a very close 2nd were the visitors who brought the wealth to the town, sadly park and rides will not bring visitors to weymouth, and will in fact make people go elsewhere, imagine this.....a family of 2 adults and 2 kids fancy a day out, 2 scenarios first is parking close to the beach and town allowing them to easily access the shops and beach, allowing them to easily drop shopping bags in the boot, and not having to carry all the beach paraphenalia on and off hopper bus,s or option 2 parking outside weymouth and waiting for a hopper bus getting on a bus with aforsaid kids,beach bags coolbox etc and taking the bus into town, do we really think they will then come into town and shop, and carry those bags as well ???
the great british public will always find the easiest place to visit, after all there are plenty of places in dorset to visit where its less stressful to visit, weymouth council needs to look at making it easier for people to visit, start by painting most of the double yellow lines black and put up signs saying please park here !, sack the parking hitlers who alienate so many visitors who leave weymouth with such a bad taste in the mouth,and a parking ticket in hand or at least stop them waiting beside cars to put a ticket on it the minute the ticket expires, and keep parking charges at a level that doesnt make people take a sharp intake of breath through clenched teeth.
The bottom line is carry on alienating drivers and making life hard for them and weymouths demise will will surely accelerate in the wrong direction, the anti car brigade will no doubt disagree but until we make life easier for motorists they will take there money elsewhere, anyone who cant see that is sadly deluded, I live in Perth Australia now, i,m coming to weymouth on busines in august and i,m dreading it, Australians laugh at me when i tell them of this story, exclaiming, so the council wants you to park 2 miles from the beach and get a bus there and back...........cue laughter and head wagging

I had 2 businesses on weymouth harbourside from 1994 until 2010, in that time there were a few people who wanted less traffic in weymouth and especially the old harbourside, one thing that these people always forget is the people who visit weymouth mostly come by car, and yes car drivers can be lazy, a good friend of mine wanted to have the old harbourside free of traffic and parked cars, i always argued that residents should come first and a very close 2nd were the visitors who brought the wealth to the town, sadly park and rides will not bring visitors to weymouth, and will in fact make people go elsewhere, imagine this.....a family of 2 adults and 2 kids fancy a day out, 2 scenarios first is parking close to the beach and town allowing them to easily access the shops and beach, allowing them to easily drop shopping bags in the boot, and not having to carry all the beach paraphenalia on and off hopper bus,s or option 2 parking outside weymouth and waiting for a hopper bus getting on a bus with aforsaid kids,beach bags coolbox etc and taking the bus into town, do we really think they will then come into town and shop, and carry those bags as well ???
the great british public will always find the easiest place to visit, after all there are plenty of places in dorset to visit where its less stressful to visit, weymouth council needs to look at making it easier for people to visit, start by painting most of the double yellow lines black and put up signs saying please park here !, sack the parking hitlers who alienate so many visitors who leave weymouth with such a bad taste in the mouth,and a parking ticket in hand or at least stop them waiting beside cars to put a ticket on it the minute the ticket expires, and keep parking charges at a level that doesnt make people take a sharp intake of breath through clenched teeth.
The bottom line is carry on alienating drivers and making life hard for them and weymouths demise will will surely accelerate in the wrong direction, the anti car brigade will no doubt disagree but until we make life easier for motorists they will take there money elsewhere, anyone who cant see that is sadly deluded, I live in Perth Australia now, i,m coming to weymouth on busines in august and i,m dreading it, Australians laugh at me when i tell them of this story, exclaiming, so the council wants you to park 2 miles from the beach and get a bus there and back...........cue laughter and head waggingpeter.ledger3@btopenworld.com

I had 2 businesses on weymouth harbourside from 1994 until 2010, in that time there were a few people who wanted less traffic in weymouth and especially the old harbourside, one thing that these people always forget is the people who visit weymouth mostly come by car, and yes car drivers can be lazy, a good friend of mine wanted to have the old harbourside free of traffic and parked cars, i always argued that residents should come first and a very close 2nd were the visitors who brought the wealth to the town, sadly park and rides will not bring visitors to weymouth, and will in fact make people go elsewhere, imagine this.....a family of 2 adults and 2 kids fancy a day out, 2 scenarios first is parking close to the beach and town allowing them to easily access the shops and beach, allowing them to easily drop shopping bags in the boot, and not having to carry all the beach paraphenalia on and off hopper bus,s or option 2 parking outside weymouth and waiting for a hopper bus getting on a bus with aforsaid kids,beach bags coolbox etc and taking the bus into town, do we really think they will then come into town and shop, and carry those bags as well ???
the great british public will always find the easiest place to visit, after all there are plenty of places in dorset to visit where its less stressful to visit, weymouth council needs to look at making it easier for people to visit, start by painting most of the double yellow lines black and put up signs saying please park here !, sack the parking hitlers who alienate so many visitors who leave weymouth with such a bad taste in the mouth,and a parking ticket in hand or at least stop them waiting beside cars to put a ticket on it the minute the ticket expires, and keep parking charges at a level that doesnt make people take a sharp intake of breath through clenched teeth.
The bottom line is carry on alienating drivers and making life hard for them and weymouths demise will will surely accelerate in the wrong direction, the anti car brigade will no doubt disagree but until we make life easier for motorists they will take there money elsewhere, anyone who cant see that is sadly deluded, I live in Perth Australia now, i,m coming to weymouth on busines in august and i,m dreading it, Australians laugh at me when i tell them of this story, exclaiming, so the council wants you to park 2 miles from the beach and get a bus there and back...........cue laughter and head wagging

I appreciate that the service costs money to run but I when I went to use the service a few months ago, for the first time, I was unable to do so because I had no change and assumed wrongly that I could use a debit card, which these days is probably the most common way to pay for things. I then ended up driving into Weymouth, and paying the extortionate parking fees.
Surely the technology is available for cards to be accepted? Or, cynic that I am, is it right to say that "no change given" rakes in a bit more?!

I appreciate that the service costs money to run but I when I went to use the service a few months ago, for the first time, I was unable to do so because I had no change and assumed wrongly that I could use a debit card, which these days is probably the most common way to pay for things. I then ended up driving into Weymouth, and paying the extortionate parking fees.
Surely the technology is available for cards to be accepted? Or, cynic that I am, is it right to say that "no change given" rakes in a bit more?!February1948

I appreciate that the service costs money to run but I when I went to use the service a few months ago, for the first time, I was unable to do so because I had no change and assumed wrongly that I could use a debit card, which these days is probably the most common way to pay for things. I then ended up driving into Weymouth, and paying the extortionate parking fees.
Surely the technology is available for cards to be accepted? Or, cynic that I am, is it right to say that "no change given" rakes in a bit more?!

Score: 7

JamesYoung
1:48pm Thu 19 Jun 14

£178,000 a year for 100 car in Weymouth.
£108,000 a year for 167 cars in Dorchester.
Wow. The council are spending £1,071 a year to take each car off the road.
Sounds like excellent value for money, doesn't it!
This scheme is never going to work while you can park in front of somebody else's house for free.
What problem are we trying to fix?
A lack of parking in Weymouth and Dorchester?
Or an environmental problem?
To do the former, you just need to build an extra deck on the Swannery car park and Dorchester's market car park. It might not look nice, but it will get the job done and could be erected within weeks.
To do the latter, you need central government action and lots of investment. You won't convince people to use buses when they are so inconvenient. You can't stop them driving their cars. You can stop them parking in residential streets, which would be a good thing but which would create a huge admin overhead.
The solution to me is blindingly obvious. You've created the problem in Dorchester by building over a car park. Build more spaces, problem goes away.

£178,000 a year for 100 car in Weymouth.
£108,000 a year for 167 cars in Dorchester.
Wow. The council are spending £1,071 a year to take each car off the road.
Sounds like excellent value for money, doesn't it!
This scheme is never going to work while you can park in front of somebody else's house for free.
What problem are we trying to fix?
A lack of parking in Weymouth and Dorchester?
Or an environmental problem?
To do the former, you just need to build an extra deck on the Swannery car park and Dorchester's market car park. It might not look nice, but it will get the job done and could be erected within weeks.
To do the latter, you need central government action and lots of investment. You won't convince people to use buses when they are so inconvenient. You can't stop them driving their cars. You can stop them parking in residential streets, which would be a good thing but which would create a huge admin overhead.
The solution to me is blindingly obvious. You've created the problem in Dorchester by building over a car park. Build more spaces, problem goes away.JamesYoung

£178,000 a year for 100 car in Weymouth.
£108,000 a year for 167 cars in Dorchester.
Wow. The council are spending £1,071 a year to take each car off the road.
Sounds like excellent value for money, doesn't it!
This scheme is never going to work while you can park in front of somebody else's house for free.
What problem are we trying to fix?
A lack of parking in Weymouth and Dorchester?
Or an environmental problem?
To do the former, you just need to build an extra deck on the Swannery car park and Dorchester's market car park. It might not look nice, but it will get the job done and could be erected within weeks.
To do the latter, you need central government action and lots of investment. You won't convince people to use buses when they are so inconvenient. You can't stop them driving their cars. You can stop them parking in residential streets, which would be a good thing but which would create a huge admin overhead.
The solution to me is blindingly obvious. You've created the problem in Dorchester by building over a car park. Build more spaces, problem goes away.

Score: 12

numbnuts846
5:15pm Thu 19 Jun 14

Its a waste of time that park and ride... passed at 10am this morning 978 spaces left. If people come from wool etc they will drive straight to town. Same from bridport along the coast road into town. Best thing for that park and ride is sell of so somebody could build something on it. Or move that market from the carpak by kfc to park and ride ...

Its a waste of time that park and ride... passed at 10am this morning 978 spaces left. If people come from wool etc they will drive straight to town. Same from bridport along the coast road into town. Best thing for that park and ride is sell of so somebody could build something on it. Or move that market from the carpak by kfc to park and ride ...numbnuts846

Its a waste of time that park and ride... passed at 10am this morning 978 spaces left. If people come from wool etc they will drive straight to town. Same from bridport along the coast road into town. Best thing for that park and ride is sell of so somebody could build something on it. Or move that market from the carpak by kfc to park and ride ...

Score: 4

scubadude
2:58pm Thu 19 Jun 14

Park safely in town or leave car miles away where gypsy's hang out robbing from cars.... hmm- tough choice.

Park safely in town or leave car miles away where gypsy's hang out robbing from cars.... hmm- tough choice.scubadude

Park safely in town or leave car miles away where gypsy's hang out robbing from cars.... hmm- tough choice.

Score: 10

Mrs Grumps
3:18pm Thu 19 Jun 14

On Tuesday, my hubby and I went shopping in Exeter as we needed things we couldn't find locally. We used the park and ride there. Very good value and my hubby could use his bus pass. Cheaper than Weymouth and the buses going into the city were nearly full all morning. We had to carry our shopping to the bus stop but worked out that it was closer for us than the centre car parks. Very efficient system.

The argument about putting stuff straight into the boot of your car in preference to using the bus doesn't work when the car parks are not that near the shops or the beach. We use the Weymouth park and ride for the beach when our family is down and it was much more convenient than the car parks, as we didn't have to carry stuff so far but was expensive for a short visit.

We also used the park and ride near Sainsburys in the off season until the price went too high. For household and clothes shopping we prefer Dorchester, which is cheaper parking. I know they need to make parking pay but people won't if the prices are too high.

You need to get the right balance and I don't think the council has. Perhaps dropping the price would mean that many more people would use it and it would start to pay.

We have also felt very unsafe as, on busy days in summer, there seems to be no limit to the number of people allowed on the buses and I can see a serious accident occurring sometime. I counted 25 people standing on one trip last year and felt very unsafe. It was way beyond the limit stated on the bus. It put us off. Being British, of course we said nothing as we didn't want to seem like killjoys but I think we were wrong.

On Tuesday, my hubby and I went shopping in Exeter as we needed things we couldn't find locally. We used the park and ride there. Very good value and my hubby could use his bus pass. Cheaper than Weymouth and the buses going into the city were nearly full all morning. We had to carry our shopping to the bus stop but worked out that it was closer for us than the centre car parks. Very efficient system.
The argument about putting stuff straight into the boot of your car in preference to using the bus doesn't work when the car parks are not that near the shops or the beach. We use the Weymouth park and ride for the beach when our family is down and it was much more convenient than the car parks, as we didn't have to carry stuff so far but was expensive for a short visit.
We also used the park and ride near Sainsburys in the off season until the price went too high. For household and clothes shopping we prefer Dorchester, which is cheaper parking. I know they need to make parking pay but people won't if the prices are too high.
You need to get the right balance and I don't think the council has. Perhaps dropping the price would mean that many more people would use it and it would start to pay.
We have also felt very unsafe as, on busy days in summer, there seems to be no limit to the number of people allowed on the buses and I can see a serious accident occurring sometime. I counted 25 people standing on one trip last year and felt very unsafe. It was way beyond the limit stated on the bus. It put us off. Being British, of course we said nothing as we didn't want to seem like killjoys but I think we were wrong.Mrs Grumps

On Tuesday, my hubby and I went shopping in Exeter as we needed things we couldn't find locally. We used the park and ride there. Very good value and my hubby could use his bus pass. Cheaper than Weymouth and the buses going into the city were nearly full all morning. We had to carry our shopping to the bus stop but worked out that it was closer for us than the centre car parks. Very efficient system.

The argument about putting stuff straight into the boot of your car in preference to using the bus doesn't work when the car parks are not that near the shops or the beach. We use the Weymouth park and ride for the beach when our family is down and it was much more convenient than the car parks, as we didn't have to carry stuff so far but was expensive for a short visit.

We also used the park and ride near Sainsburys in the off season until the price went too high. For household and clothes shopping we prefer Dorchester, which is cheaper parking. I know they need to make parking pay but people won't if the prices are too high.

You need to get the right balance and I don't think the council has. Perhaps dropping the price would mean that many more people would use it and it would start to pay.

We have also felt very unsafe as, on busy days in summer, there seems to be no limit to the number of people allowed on the buses and I can see a serious accident occurring sometime. I counted 25 people standing on one trip last year and felt very unsafe. It was way beyond the limit stated on the bus. It put us off. Being British, of course we said nothing as we didn't want to seem like killjoys but I think we were wrong.

Score: 1

Ashers 5
4:56pm Thu 19 Jun 14

Of course stupid me...It makes complete sense to drive from Wyke to the park and ride and then back into town on the bus,with 3 kids in tow....Then wait for another bus,with shopping and 3 kids,back up to the park are ride then drive back to Wyke.
Err....don't think so.
It's only of use if you're coming in from the Dorch side of town.

Of course stupid me...It makes complete sense to drive from Wyke to the park and ride and then back into town on the bus,with 3 kids in tow....Then wait for another bus,with shopping and 3 kids,back up to the park are ride then drive back to Wyke.
Err....don't think so.
It's only of use if you're coming in from the Dorch side of town.Ashers 5

Of course stupid me...It makes complete sense to drive from Wyke to the park and ride and then back into town on the bus,with 3 kids in tow....Then wait for another bus,with shopping and 3 kids,back up to the park are ride then drive back to Wyke.
Err....don't think so.
It's only of use if you're coming in from the Dorch side of town.

Score: 11

hobbitdamian
5:11pm Thu 19 Jun 14

sack the clowns that implemented this financially black hole scheme and allow somebody from within the council to improve it. if they dont sack them too. eventually they will have sacked enough clowns to cover the deficit!!

sack the clowns that implemented this financially black hole scheme and allow somebody from within the council to improve it. if they dont sack them too. eventually they will have sacked enough clowns to cover the deficit!!hobbitdamian

sack the clowns that implemented this financially black hole scheme and allow somebody from within the council to improve it. if they dont sack them too. eventually they will have sacked enough clowns to cover the deficit!!

Score: -2

lala1965
7:04pm Thu 19 Jun 14

Common sense really, put the prices down, more people will use it, more money in the pot. Simples!,

Common sense really, put the prices down, more people will use it, more money in the pot. Simples!,lala1965

Common sense really, put the prices down, more people will use it, more money in the pot. Simples!,

Pay us to use it? Another failed white elephant funded by the bottomless pit of tax payers money.

Score: -2

TenBobDylanThomasHardy
8:42pm Thu 19 Jun 14

I don't understand all the demands for 'Free' park and Ride, someone has to pay the Bus-driver, fuel, maintenance etc. Try walking or cycling that's free(ish)

I don't understand all the demands for 'Free' park and Ride, someone has to pay the Bus-driver, fuel, maintenance etc. Try walking or cycling that's free(ish)TenBobDylanThomasHardy

I don't understand all the demands for 'Free' park and Ride, someone has to pay the Bus-driver, fuel, maintenance etc. Try walking or cycling that's free(ish)

Score: 9

cj07589
8:49pm Thu 19 Jun 14

lala1965 wrote…

Common sense really, put the prices down, more people will use it, more money in the pot. Simples!,

Sadly we are talking about commercially inept public servants here.

[quote][p][bold]lala1965[/bold] wrote:
Common sense really, put the prices down, more people will use it, more money in the pot. Simples!,[/p][/quote]Sadly we are talking about commercially inept public servants here.cj07589

lala1965 wrote…

Common sense really, put the prices down, more people will use it, more money in the pot. Simples!,

Sadly we are talking about commercially inept public servants here.

Score: 5

luffy22
10:02pm Thu 19 Jun 14

scubadude wrote…

Park safely in town or leave car miles away where gypsy's hang out robbing from cars.... hmm- tough choice.

and don't forget the Gipsies don't have to pay to stay there, they get it for free with all their rubbish cleared up after them at no expense as well

[quote][p][bold]scubadude[/bold] wrote:
Park safely in town or leave car miles away where gypsy's hang out robbing from cars.... hmm- tough choice.[/p][/quote]and don't forget the Gipsies don't have to pay to stay there, they get it for free with all their rubbish cleared up after them at no expense as wellluffy22

scubadude wrote…

Park safely in town or leave car miles away where gypsy's hang out robbing from cars.... hmm- tough choice.

and don't forget the Gipsies don't have to pay to stay there, they get it for free with all their rubbish cleared up after them at no expense as well

Score: 12

Panyan
10:29pm Thu 19 Jun 14

I live in the town centre and during peak season I am reluctant to use my car during the day time as it can be very difficult to find an available permit holder space for re parking. I would love to be able to get on the empty park and ride to go to Sainsbury's and Morrisons for a grocery shop. I did email to ask if this could be made possible and I was informed no and it was suggested I use the other bus services that go along the Dorchester Road. These are often very crowded and you can barely hold a handbag on your knee let alone a bag full of shopping or a shopping trolley.

I live in the town centre and during peak season I am reluctant to use my car during the day time as it can be very difficult to find an available permit holder space for re parking. I would love to be able to get on the empty park and ride to go to Sainsbury's and Morrisons for a grocery shop. I did email to ask if this could be made possible and I was informed no and it was suggested I use the other bus services that go along the Dorchester Road. These are often very crowded and you can barely hold a handbag on your knee let alone a bag full of shopping or a shopping trolley.Panyan

I live in the town centre and during peak season I am reluctant to use my car during the day time as it can be very difficult to find an available permit holder space for re parking. I would love to be able to get on the empty park and ride to go to Sainsbury's and Morrisons for a grocery shop. I did email to ask if this could be made possible and I was informed no and it was suggested I use the other bus services that go along the Dorchester Road. These are often very crowded and you can barely hold a handbag on your knee let alone a bag full of shopping or a shopping trolley.

Pay us to use it? Another failed white elephant funded by the bottomless pit of tax payers money.

Even that wouldn't work. Poll after poll shows that motorists would rather sit in queues for hours rather than get out of their cars for some form of public transport.

[quote][p][bold]cj07589[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Newground[/bold] wrote:
* Make it free.
* Change people's driving/parking behaviour over time.
* Introduce minor charge year 3
* Introduce market rate year 5 with discount for heavy users[/p][/quote]Pay us to use it? Another failed white elephant funded by the bottomless pit of tax payers money.[/p][/quote]Even that wouldn't work. Poll after poll shows that motorists would rather sit in queues for hours rather than get out of their cars for some form of public transport.breamoreboy

Help us increase cycle usage in Weymouth by making the promenade a cycle zone
https://secure.avaaz
.org/en/petition/Wey
mouth_Portland_Borou
gh_Council_Allow_ped
alling_on_the_seafro
nt_ie_cycling/?nHYOQ
bbParkstreetshufle

Help us increase cycle usage in Weymouth by making the promenade a cycle zone

On Tuesday, my hubby and I went shopping in Exeter as we needed things we couldn't find locally. We used the park and ride there. Very good value and my hubby could use his bus pass. Cheaper than Weymouth and the buses going into the city were nearly full all morning. We had to carry our shopping to the bus stop but worked out that it was closer for us than the centre car parks. Very efficient system.

The argument about putting stuff straight into the boot of your car in preference to using the bus doesn't work when the car parks are not that near the shops or the beach. We use the Weymouth park and ride for the beach when our family is down and it was much more convenient than the car parks, as we didn't have to carry stuff so far but was expensive for a short visit.

We also used the park and ride near Sainsburys in the off season until the price went too high. For household and clothes shopping we prefer Dorchester, which is cheaper parking. I know they need to make parking pay but people won't if the prices are too high.

You need to get the right balance and I don't think the council has. Perhaps dropping the price would mean that many more people would use it and it would start to pay.

We have also felt very unsafe as, on busy days in summer, there seems to be no limit to the number of people allowed on the buses and I can see a serious accident occurring sometime. I counted 25 people standing on one trip last year and felt very unsafe. It was way beyond the limit stated on the bus. It put us off. Being British, of course we said nothing as we didn't want to seem like killjoys but I think we were wrong.

With regard to the number of people on the bus, if you look above the drivers head there should be the number of seated/standing passengers allowed. If they exceed this then it needs reporting - it's not safe.

[quote][p][bold]Mrs Grumps[/bold] wrote:
On Tuesday, my hubby and I went shopping in Exeter as we needed things we couldn't find locally. We used the park and ride there. Very good value and my hubby could use his bus pass. Cheaper than Weymouth and the buses going into the city were nearly full all morning. We had to carry our shopping to the bus stop but worked out that it was closer for us than the centre car parks. Very efficient system.
The argument about putting stuff straight into the boot of your car in preference to using the bus doesn't work when the car parks are not that near the shops or the beach. We use the Weymouth park and ride for the beach when our family is down and it was much more convenient than the car parks, as we didn't have to carry stuff so far but was expensive for a short visit.
We also used the park and ride near Sainsburys in the off season until the price went too high. For household and clothes shopping we prefer Dorchester, which is cheaper parking. I know they need to make parking pay but people won't if the prices are too high.
You need to get the right balance and I don't think the council has. Perhaps dropping the price would mean that many more people would use it and it would start to pay.
We have also felt very unsafe as, on busy days in summer, there seems to be no limit to the number of people allowed on the buses and I can see a serious accident occurring sometime. I counted 25 people standing on one trip last year and felt very unsafe. It was way beyond the limit stated on the bus. It put us off. Being British, of course we said nothing as we didn't want to seem like killjoys but I think we were wrong.[/p][/quote]With regard to the number of people on the bus, if you look above the drivers head there should be the number of seated/standing passengers allowed. If they exceed this then it needs reporting - it's not safe.angrydorseter

Mrs Grumps wrote…

On Tuesday, my hubby and I went shopping in Exeter as we needed things we couldn't find locally. We used the park and ride there. Very good value and my hubby could use his bus pass. Cheaper than Weymouth and the buses going into the city were nearly full all morning. We had to carry our shopping to the bus stop but worked out that it was closer for us than the centre car parks. Very efficient system.

The argument about putting stuff straight into the boot of your car in preference to using the bus doesn't work when the car parks are not that near the shops or the beach. We use the Weymouth park and ride for the beach when our family is down and it was much more convenient than the car parks, as we didn't have to carry stuff so far but was expensive for a short visit.

We also used the park and ride near Sainsburys in the off season until the price went too high. For household and clothes shopping we prefer Dorchester, which is cheaper parking. I know they need to make parking pay but people won't if the prices are too high.

You need to get the right balance and I don't think the council has. Perhaps dropping the price would mean that many more people would use it and it would start to pay.

We have also felt very unsafe as, on busy days in summer, there seems to be no limit to the number of people allowed on the buses and I can see a serious accident occurring sometime. I counted 25 people standing on one trip last year and felt very unsafe. It was way beyond the limit stated on the bus. It put us off. Being British, of course we said nothing as we didn't want to seem like killjoys but I think we were wrong.

With regard to the number of people on the bus, if you look above the drivers head there should be the number of seated/standing passengers allowed. If they exceed this then it needs reporting - it's not safe.

Ipsoregulated

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